Hitendra Patel, MD, is a cardiac catheterization and intensive care expert. He specializes in using interventional cardiac catheterization to measure heart activity and repair certain heart problems. During cardiac catheterization, a small tube or catheter is inserted into a vein or artery, usually in the groin, and then advanced into the heart’s chambers. Once in the heart, the catheter becomes a tiny door into the heart through which the cardiologist may perform different procedures to repair cardiac defects. The procedure is what is referred to as an “intervention.” Interventions may include:

Opening a narrowed heart valve by inflating a balloon

Opening a narrowed blood vessel by inflating a balloon or installing a stent to hold the vessel open

Closing off abnormal connecting vessels

Closing a hole in the heart using either the Amplatzer or the Helex devices. Dr. Patel is a nationally recognized expert in device closure using the Amplatzer and Helex devices.

Cardiac Intensive Care
Dr. Patel is a cardiac intensivist and specializes in medical diagnosis and stabilization of critically ill patients with heart defects. He provides essential care before, during and immediately after a cardiac surgery. Comprehensive surgical management of a child with a cardiac heart defect requires close collaboration between cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac and general intensivists, and cardiac anesthesiologists.